Flashpoint Latvia

[celedhring]

Well a modern naval force would be pretty useful in a Baltic based conflict.

It's no Royal Navy, but we can deploy a decent task force. Once the new subs are finally commissioned, every ship in our battle line -except the Hazard Perry's - will have been built in the 2000s or 2010s.

[CountDeMoney]

It's no Royal Navy

That's OK, neither is the Royal Navy.

[Zanza]

I am usually a big fan of our soft power approach, but in the current situation Germany should build a big base in the Baltics and station a panzer division there.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

I saw in a recent poll that only the LibDem voters would really support helping the Baltic countries against the Russians. All the other voters would be ambivalent or against.

Were I in charge of the Baltic countries, I'd invest a bit in PR to push a "we're like you" narrative in big NATO countries (i.e. Germany, France, US, UK).

Were I in charge I would grant citizenship to the Russians living there.  The fact that ethnic Russians have genuine grievances really muddies the waters here.

the colonists should have been expelled :p

seriously: the baltics are part of the Alliance, and they should be protected by the full might of that Alliance.

[The Brain]

I am usually a big fan of our soft power approach, but in the current situation Germany should build a big base in the Baltics and station a panzer division there.

Oh my God yes.

[Valmy]

I am usually a big fan of our soft power approach, but in the current situation Germany should build a big base in the Baltics and station a panzer division there.

Soft power is a very good offensive weapon, as the Russian cyberwarrriors are showing, but deterrence is important for defense.

[derspiess]

I am usually a big fan of our soft power approach, but in the current situation Germany should build a big base in the Baltics and station a panzer division there.

Be careful with those; it's not like you have as many as you used to

[Valmy]

I am usually a big fan of our soft power approach, but in the current situation Germany should build a big base in the Baltics and station a panzer division there.

Be careful with those; it's not like you have as many as you used to

They can fill the ranks with eager Osttruppen volunteers.

[celedhring]

I am usually a big fan of our soft power approach, but in the current situation Germany should build a big base in the Baltics and station a panzer division there.

Be careful with those; it's not like you have as many as you used to

I was genuinely shocked when I found out that we have more Leopard 2 than Germany itself. 

[Zanza]

I am usually a big fan of our soft power approach, but in the current situation Germany should build a big base in the Baltics and station a panzer division there.

Be careful with those; it's not like you have as many as you used to

We can make more of them.

[Valmy]

That is the plan right? I understood re-armament was started last year.

[Zanza]

Not sure what re-armament means. It's not like we are disarmed. I think the "new" tanks they want to put into service are just older Leo2s from storage that get new electronics and a new main gun. Upgrade from A4 to A7.

In the current situation with a resurgent Russia, I wouldn't mind if we spend more resources on our military. I am not a big believer in the 2% NATO target as that seems arbitrary. We should spend what is necessary and in these times it might be necessary to build a new heavy mechanized unit to deploy in the Baltics.

[Ideologue]

One needn't be a "hawk" to support NATO.

Well, I didn't want to call Ide a communist traitor outright.

Last I checked, my country wasn't Latvia.

If it makes you feel better, I could easily be talked into supporting the defense of that other newer NATO member, Poland.  Of course, I'm pretty sure you could talk me out of it, too.

[Ideologue]

I am usually a big fan of our soft power approach, but in the current situation Germany should build a big base in the Baltics and station a panzer division there.

Soft power is a very good offensive weapon, as the Russian cyberwarrriors are showing, but deterrence is important for defense.

Does hacking adversary government computers count as "soft power"?

[Valmy]

Last I checked, my country wasn't Latvia.

Last I checked your country was bound to defend Latvia.